Andrew Robson – Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, Sydney, NSW

1. What was your first brew?
It was a stout because I knew that the darker the style, the less chance for error, or at least the more ingredients to mask my rookie mistakes.

2. How did you get this job?
I worked as the pub’s cellarman for 5 years and did on and off shifts in the brewery working as assistant brewer and as the relief brewer when the head brewer was on holiday. After the resignation of the head brewer, the position was offered to me and I ran with it.

3. What’s your favourite beer that you have brewed?
Probably have to be the Rye Ale that we make at the Lord (One Eyed Rye). Given the rather fat and stocky design of our mash tun, we can churn out rye ales with 55% rye malt base. This is usually quite a rarity in modern day breweries given the tall skinny mash tun designs.

4. What’s your favourite beer brewed by others?
Anything by Rogue Brewery in the States, and if I had to choose from their selection, probably the Saint Rogue Dry Hopped Red Ale.

5. Which beer would you like to brew?
Ummmm, I guess I’ve always wanted to brew a Stout, and I have many times, mainly for the incredible smell that leaps out of the mash tun when you mash in virtually every type of malt there is.

6. What name would you really like to give to a beer, and what type of beer would it be?
Malty Dimensional Ale, for a beer that uses multiple base malts instead of just one variety.

7. What’s your favourite beer style?
Trappist ales. I’m a bit of a new comer to this style, but given the depth of yeast esters and malt flavours I really enjoy exploring all the different beers that come from this style.

8. What’s your favourite hop variety?
My old man hailed from the North of England, so I’m quite partial to the UK varieties, especially Fuggles.

9. What’s your favourite malt variety?
The British crystal malts, not only because of the rich caramel and toffee flavours they add to the beer, but also because they are delicious to eat straight out of the bag!

10. Which do you prefer – draught, bottle or cans?
None of the above, straight from the tank.